Video Streaming

[Java6]

Hi Everyone!
Is there any way I can stream live Video from, for example a USB webcam or a Video Card? I was going to set up a small webcasting system and do not have any hardware yet. Any Ideas for Hardware and Software? So is there any way to stream video from webcams or other Video Input devices? I would want the software to be free and able to stream in MPEG4 or some other format that I could play back in Flash? Thanks for any help on this topic.

BTW, any suggestions on hardware I should or can use that is ubuntu-compatible?


:popcorn:

[cariboo907]

I was given a webcam that attaches to a server, that connects to a network, similar to this (http:////cgi.ebay.com/USB-CCTV-Web-Camera-IP-Video-Server-With-2-USB-Port_W0QQitemZ220277522548QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_V ideo_Conferencing_Webcams?hash=item3349904074&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116), It uses a java applet to display the output in a browser.

[Java6]

I'll take a look at that. Is there a way to display it in a Flash Thing?
{edit}
That camera looks nice, but is there something with more resolution? Or something where I can just plug in any video source? I saw those cards everywhere for $15 or so that have a video input. Do you know which of those are supported my Ubuntu?{/edit}

[cariboo907]

I have an ATI card with s-video and composite inputs for video capture, I've never used it as I really don't like ATI :), but I may try it later on this week.

Have a look here (http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) for supported devices.

[Java6]

OK. I'll take a look at it. I might buy a card later this week.

[kustomjs]

well I just got my webcam installed on my server and I am using a logitech quickcam and it works perfect just make you install webcam-server by going sudo apt-get install webcam-server.

or use this guide: http://hacktivision.com/index.php/2009/06/16/setting-up-an-ubuntu-webcam-server?blog=2

[Lars Noodén]

You'll probably want to take a look at Icecast first:

http://www.icecast.org/faq.php

http://www.icecast.org/ezstream.php


Maybe FFMPEG will be of use, maybe not:

http://ffmpeg.org/

[Lars Noodén]

...I would want the software to be free and able to stream in MPEG4 or some other format ...



Flash, though pushed heavily by Youtube, is not Free. non-Free formats just make life harder (and more expensive) for everybody.


Ogg Theora is recognized now in Firefox, so in addition to MPEG you can give Theora a try.

[Java6]

I will give it a try. But by flash I mean that it could be displayed in an Flash file. I can do Flex too :P I think flash is able to do MPEG, but not sure. ELse I will use the Theora support, I think firefox and safari have these implemented and then use a Flash Applet as fallback.

[Lars Noodén]

I think flash is able to do MPEG,

Three years of drift away from Open Standards... Flash is different than MPEG. Further, MPEG is more or less open. Flash is proprietary. It wasn't really intended for video anyway though being a container format it can get abused as one. ;)

Flex:
http://www.techper.net/2007/12/28/flash-is-still-closed-source-and-proprietary-technology/


If you're looking for open format sites:

http://thevideobay.org/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/
http://dailymotion.com/

[Java6]

Sorry. I meant Flex. So is there a way for it to render MPEG or OGG Theora?